Paxton PAC Runs TV Ads in Palm Beach as Trump Weighs Endorsement

The race between Paxton and Cornyn for the Texas Senate seat hangs in the balance.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 10:34pm

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A super PAC supporting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's Senate campaign is airing television ads in Palm Beach, Florida, where former President Trump is spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. The ads accuse Paxton's opponent, Rep. John Cornyn, of betraying Trump. Trump is still weighing an endorsement in the closely watched Republican primary runoff, as top GOP leaders on Capitol Hill have been lobbying him to back Cornyn.

Why it matters

The outcome of the Texas Senate Republican primary runoff could have major implications, as the winner will face a Democratic challenger in the general election. Trump's endorsement is seen as crucial, and the TV ad campaign targeting him at Mar-a-Lago suggests the race is intensifying as he nears a decision.

The details

Lone Star Liberty PAC, a super PAC supporting Paxton, released a new TV ad on Friday accusing Cornyn of 'betraying' Trump by voting to confirm Merrick Garland as U.S. Attorney General and Lisa Monaco as Deputy Attorney General in 2021. The ad concludes with a clip of Cornyn telling an NBC News reporter to 'go away.' Cornyn has since reversed his longstanding opposition to eliminating the Senate filibuster, saying he supports changes to Senate rules to advance the SAVE America Act, a Republican-backed nationwide voter ID bill.

  • The TV ads began airing on Friday, March 14, 2026.
  • The Texas Republican primary runoff is scheduled for May 26, 2026.

The players

Ken Paxton

The current Texas Attorney General and a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate.

John Cornyn

A U.S. Representative from Texas and a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, who is currently spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

Lone Star Liberty PAC

A super PAC supporting Ken Paxton's Senate campaign.

James Talarico

A Texas state Representative and the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate.

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What’s next

Trump is expected to make a decision on his endorsement in the Texas Senate Republican primary runoff within the next week.

The takeaway

The Texas Senate Republican primary runoff has become a high-stakes battle, with both candidates vying for Trump's endorsement and the winner likely to face a tough general election challenge. The TV ad campaign targeting Trump at Mar-a-Lago underscores the intensity of the race and the importance of his backing.